Unfortunately, they did not, to my knowledge, ever make an official video for this song. TDG was one of the last bands I really got into. Like “Breaking Benjamin” they offered a more modern sound away from the “heavy metal,” “thrash,” “alternative,” and “nu-metal” I had essentially grown up with.

There are no weak points on this album as far as I’m concerned. The cover art with the family evicted from their home, burning in the background, is also very intense. Really hard to pick a “favorite” here but I think it would be this track. I seem to remember reading an interview with them where they mentioned Black Sabbath as one of their influences. Though they are totally different and decades apart, I can hear that “ominous” sound in many TDG songs.

Best YouTube Comments:

“His voice when he says ‘fuck’.”

“This song scares me a lil...”

“He said ‘THE shit’ meaning it’s awesome.”

“Must learn this song on guitar.”

“I love the beginning its amazing.”

(Me: One person on another post said if you could play the intro you were "guaranteed to get laid…” )

Something newer for a change. From the album “Human” featuring singer Matt Walst. On April 1, 2014, the band released "Painkiller" on iTunes. On April 8, 2014, the song was released to US rock radio stations. Two months later, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The second single, "I Am Machine", also reached No. 1.

My hatred of drugs is not exactly a well-kept secret. This is a hard hitting “wake up call” for a lot of people. I have many friends from when I was younger who are no longer with us. Born in the 1980’s, somehow I managed to stay away from the entire drug “scene.” I’m sure football, academics, fast cars, loud music, and beautiful women helped a lot.

Had posted the “official” video over a year ago. Realized it got changed and/or deleted. This is the lyric video based on the radio version of this song. Very powerful and intense subject matter. Surprisingly heavy for today.

One of the first hard rock/heavy metal albums of the early 80’s. “Too Fast for Love” was released in the US by Elektra records two days after I was born. I’m sure my parents played this for me after they brought me home from the hospital…

Favorite songs are this one of course, LiveWire, and Take Me To The Top. I mentioned in an earlier post I had a brief “fling” with learning to play drums about ten years later after seeing “Wayne’s World.” Tommy Lee was my favorite drummer as a kid. Wish I could play like that. As far as I’m concerned, “modern” hard rock started with “Blizzard of Ozz,” “The Number of The Beast,” and this album.

Best YouTube Comments:

“That guitar solo was the sexiest thing I've ever listened to.”

“This music is an orgasm!!!” (Me: You should see her profile pic… )

“Its funny howe (sic) they are like heavy sexual too. "Get a piece of your action." Definitive Crue or to me “should be" or "as it is meant to be." Near metal perfection, and that compliment does not come easy or lightly.” (Me: Did you notice any sexual references in this song? )

“Love the sleaze of this song.”

“Too Fast For Love and Shout at the Devil are by far the best Crue albums. Tommy and Mick's playing ARE the band.”

“They were playing this at a time when record companies were all about new wave, yet these guys were successful in spite of it.”

Since I already posted Kelly to the “Divas” thread I might as well share the song that made me a fan. I have said that she might have the greatest voice ever—especially in modern music (rivaled only by Hayley Williams IMHO ). As you can probably tell from most of the songs I post to this thread that I wouldn’t have followed “American Idol” in 2002. Umm… too busy with football, college, and listening to nothing but “extreme” and “nu” metal maybe?

Anyway, it was the Summer of 2005. Was visiting one of the schools that had offered me a teaching position. Heard this amazing voice coming from someone’s office “Here I am once again…” had to stop to listen she was that good. Also the drumming stood out. Finally, after a little research back home I learned that the singer had won “American Idol” three years earlier and already was a major recording artist. Sorry, Kelly… It’s just that all that hard rock and “nu-metal” I grew up listening to must have damaged my brain. Of course I watched the video for “Since U Been Gone.” Like on repeat...

The drummer on the record is Shawn Pelton a graduate of Indiana University’s School of Music who has performed with many major artists. He was also the drummer on Saturday Night Live for many years. His strong beat and creative fills along with Kelly’s powerful voice and emotional lyrics make this “pop” song stand out from the rest. I always take time to listen to it whenever it comes on anywhere. I have it in my playlist and of course my wife has the CD.

I wouldn’t hear another singer who would get my attention like that for two more years. The song was “Misery Business.” Hayley, like Kelly, also has an amazing voice. In fact sometimes I get them “mixed up” if I hear one of their songs on the radio and I’m not paying attention.

I’m glad I discovered Kelly Clarkson (previous post) in the Summer of 2005. Totally ashamed that it took me three years from American Idol to learn who she was… Never did drugs but I think most of the music I grew up with destroyed brain cells.

This is what I was still listening to in 2005. Remember buying this CD. Yes, those are clips from “Saw” in the video.

From the album “Sin After Sin.” Recorded in 1977 it was light years ahead of its time. Even the cover artwork. The girl sitting outside the temple is very sexy. I have often wondered if she is cis or trans? Does it even matter? Although this album was released several years before I was born, I do know music from many different generations. At least to me, this entire album (especially this song) sounds like nothing else from that era. Listening to it, it is almost impossible to believe this is a 42 year old song!

Of particular note is the incredible drumming of Simon Philips who at the time was only 19. This would be the only album he would record with Judas Priest. Phillips was known as an innovator and is considered one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Rob Halford, one of the earliest rockers to come “out of the closet,” was a powerful frontman with an amazing voice and dominating stage presence. He was bigger than the other members and clad in “biker gear” would ride his trademark Harley onstage. When I was about 12 or 13 my dad commented on a few of my “band” posters. He thought they “all looked like girls.” Then he pointed to this big guy with short hair on a motorcycle (not realizing he was gay or bi) and said “You should be like him.” Well looking back, I guess I DID sorta turn out to be like him…

Best YouTube Comments:

“This was 1977. Think about that for a second. What sounded like this before then? Nothing.”

From 1981. The late 70’s and early 80’s strike me as somewhat of a “golden” era for hard rock and the beginnings of metal. Great sounding guitars, bass, drumming, and songwriting. My own “era” was somewhat later. Roughly 1989 through 2010 which included more “extreme” forms of metal, grunge, and the much maligned “nu metal” genre. Still, I love going back in time and checking out some of these bands. Many of these songs are on my “workout” playlist.

Best YouTube Comments:

“So heavy for the time.”

“140 mph down the interstate to this song, good times... Did it 2-3 am, no lives at risk, except my own.” (Me: Only 140? )

“Whoa!!! This is really cool!!! I love it when I rediscover good music!!!”

“Check out the drums freaking awesome!!!”

"At least you get to hear the Bad Ass Jams that your mommy and daddy fucked to in order to have you" (Me: So I was conceived to this? Well, that explains a lot… )

Even farther back in time. All the way to 1971. What sounded like this? More than anything else, to me at least, this is the true beginning of heavy metal although I’m not sure the term “heavy metal” was even used back then. Black Sabbath were from Birmingham, England. In 1971, the US was still fighting the Vietnam War, the Apollo moon landings were taking place, Nixon was President, Watergate had not yet happened, “Dirty Harry” was in the theaters, something called the “ARPANET” was being developed to explore the networking of computers, and you could buy a Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport 2 Door Hardtop with a 454 for only $3,611 USD.

Best YouTube Comments:

“I don’t always listen to Sabbath, but when I do, so do my neighbors.”

“Jesus, this is what, '71? The riffs that Iommi came up with were so ahead of the curve it's absurd."